Anyone else have the issue mine seems to be suffering from?

When you start up, it gives the engine say 5 seconds to get established before the air con compressor clutch kicks in to chill the air.

When I start mine from cold and the clutch kicks in it clatters and bangs quite loudly for a second or two, as if it's airlocked and trying to self bleed. Once this racket finishes it will run quietly - you can watch the clutch kick in and out without issue.

Hot starting, it doesn't do it. I can feel a pre-service trip to the dealers coming on.....

Possibly needs a top up...

You are not alone! My 2007 100hp does this too, and has since it was nearly new. It only seems to occur when the weather is very warm (above about 22degC) and only when starting from cold.

I posted a thread about it last summer and no-one owned up to a similar experience. It went away all autumn/winter, but reoccured this week with the hot weather.

I park facing uphill on a slight gradient and wondered if maybe the refrigerant was draining out of the compressor whilst parked? (but then it would still do so in cooler weather and my climate is almost always left at "auto" and about 19-20deg)

???

I don't know much about aircon compressors, but do they perhaps need greesing somewhere

Could also maybe be normal in certain temps because the compressor is working harder/more often?

Just idea's. As I say I don't know much about aircon compressors

Jon

The greasing comes from a special oil injected at the same time as the refrigerant and very much doubt that it would be a problem on a 2007 car.

The way it works or so I know it anyway, It's a fluid when it's inert like butane but as it passes through the system it turns to a gas when it goes through the evaporator and the cooling system then returns to liquid form when it passes back through the condensor. So the gradient idea I'm not sure on unless it's needing topped up? or was never filled properly from the factory.

The system is filled by weight of the gas/fluid on a scale, it's not topped up to the brim if you catch my drift. When re gassing the r134 is normally completely removed and then re-filled once again by weight.

On most cars there is an inspection window to ensure that you can see if it needs re-filled, I've never looked for it on the panda but will do tomorrow and report if I can see it.

Alan.D said:

On most cars there is an inspection window to ensure that you can see if it needs re-filled, I've never looked for it on the panda but will do tomorrow and report if I can see it.

Click to expand...

Never knew that

Cheers Alan, not done much work on air con myself so appreciate the advice

I had to convert my BM from the old R12 gas (now illegal) to use r134, in which you have to replace all of the seals as the r134 has a much smaller molicule size than r12 so would basically release the gas without changing them. I then as a result had to remove all of the component parts evaporator, condensor, drier, compressor etc to change the seals so kind of learned about it as I went

Not noticed this on mine yet, although I know I'm still a few thousand miles behind you (just ticked over 9k!). Just a thought, is the air con left on all the time or do you switch it on when you need it? Interesting it only does it on cold starts too....

Chris

I never switch the air con off unless I want all the power there and then, but there aren't many situations where the extra 2bhp is a huge improvement Also I like the inside of the car like an ice box!

I was wondering if it was airlocking or settling when left overnight. Just over 9,000 on mine too, btw.

Checked all of the pipes earlier when giving the car a good wax and there is no sign on a sight glass anywhere so it must be a dealer issue to see if any gas is lost.

Thanks Alan, will keep an ear out and maybe book it in for an early service/check up.

Hi, mine does this too, started when the weather warmed up a bit but only when I parked at work!! on a slight slope nose upwards. Doesn't always do it , seems when ambient temp is quite high. As it was intermittent I haven't taken it to garage yet, is it a precursor of bad things to come? Let us know how you get on. John B
p.s. mines a 07 with approx 18k miles

My driveway is a slight upward slope. I'll try parking facing down for a while and see if the clatter ceases when I start up.

As it seems to be a hot-weather problem a the great british summer could end without notice I don't hold much hope of a dealer fix for such an intermittent problem.

My concern is that I'll suffer a premature failure of the compressor just outside of warranty (v expensive I expect).

2007 100HP (9000 miles covered).

As long as you present the problem prior to the waranty ending you should be covered if it fails, but you will need proof of presenting the problem and the date it was presented for when they try to argue the point.

Parked facing downhill (not really a hill just a slope!) since yesterday.

started her up this afternoon, 25degC.

Air-con switches on silently!!!

Air con doesn't like slopes???

Thanks for that, strange symptom one maybe worthy of a visit to the dealer or at least a call...